Four Seasons is hands down the most luxurious hotel in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Designed by SOM (Burj Khalifa architects) this spectacular hotel was built to become an icon of the country. It is positioned on a reclaimed private island, with a private beach and views of the capital’s skyline.
Arrival
If you are a true luxury traveller ask for the hotel to arrange an airport pick up for you. Arrive like royalty in a beautiful Rolls Royce. The ride from the airport takes 15-20 minutes and check in can be done in-suite or at the front desk.
Interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon did a spectacular job – hotel’s lobby is breathtaking with floor to ceiling panoramic windows opening onto Arabian Gulf. Full size trees are a nice touch and look especially pretty during the Festive Season.
We arrived late at night and were greeted by the front desk manager by name, promptly escorted to our suite and welcomed with a bottle of red, fruit, local sweets and a lolly pop for my youngster.
A welcome note on the bathroom mirror ‘Welcome to the Four Seasons Bahrain’ was also very sweet and kids’ size slippers and bathrobes were also appreciated by my son.
Rooms and Suites
48 storey building has 216 guest rooms and 57 suites. Even though the building looks huge, the hotel feels very intimate. The design of the lobby is fantastic with mahogany wood lining the walls, similar to a luxury cruise liner.
During our stay we enjoyed a one-bedroom Deluxe suite on the 27th floor with the views of the nearby islands and Arabian Gulf. The living room is very spacious with a sofa bed, making it perfect for families.
A separate bedroom is connected to a beautiful black marble bathroom with a bath and a rain shower. Large walk-in wardrobe, all lined in mahogany, is also very handy, especially if you don’t travel light like us.
We loved the Bahraini art pieces in the suites and throughout the hotel, they add authenticity to the atmosphere and enhance the Middle Eastern flavour of the property.
If you choose a room, you won’t be disappointed either, as rooms start from 55 square meters and all feature water views.
Facilities
Four Seasons Bahrain caters not only to business travellers, but also to families and leisure guests. Kids Club offers daily activities for the children, as well as Playstation and computers for the pre-teens.
New mini water park with water slides and a pirate ship playground provides hours of entertainment for the youngsters, while white sand beach is perfect for relaxation in the warmer months of the year.
Resort pool has excellent service with chilled bottles of water delivered to the deck chairs as soon as you arrive and courteous beach butlers eager to set up the towels for you.
Spa is a sanctuary of relaxation with traditional Hammam, indoor pool and a variety of facials, massages and body treatments available by appointment. I experienced a beautiful facial and loved the whole spa experience. Wish I had more time for Hammam and a swim in a pretty pool.
Four Seasons takes fitness seriously and their gym offers a daily selection of classes for every taste. Often you’ll have the personal trainer all to yourself for a private session. Yoga class I tried was excellent.
Dining
Buffet breakfast is delicious with a great selection of Middle Eastern, Asian and European dishes. You can dine indoors or outdoors in a beautiful garden overlooking the Gulf.
Casual lunch can be enjoyed by the pool, at the main restaurant serving buffet (surprisingly very well priced) or you could enjoy a selection of healthy vegan dishes in the lobby lounge. For those who are concerned about alcohol in the Middle East, Four Seasons Bahrain serves it in all the venues apart from the lobby lounge. You can definitely enjoy a glass of wine with your lunch or dinner.
Dinner options are very fancy – enjoy an incredible steak at Cut by Wolfgang Puck, a venue that gets booked out on most nights with a mix of locals and expats. Excellent vibe, amazing food, a place to see and be seen.
For the lovers of Asian food, try Re Asian restaurant on the top floor of the hotel with amazing views of Bahrain skyline. It is also a Wolfgang Puck restaurant with his take on modern Asian cuisine with signature dishes like Chili Chicken Dumplings and Angry Lobster.
The Lux Traveller Loves
We loved the incredible service that distinguishes Four Seasons from the other hotels around the world. I was greeted by name from the minute I arrived to the moment I left by everyone in the hotel, starting from the porter to breakfast staff, drivers and management. How they do it, is still a secret to me, to be discovered one day.
We also loved the modern yet very homey design of the suites, use of beautiful wood, Hermes inspired bedding, daily fruit in the suite, resort facilities and excellent set up for families.
Splitting Hairs
It is fantastic to have a beach in the middle of Bahrain, but truth be told, it’s not the best beach in the world. As long as you don’t expect Maldivian crystal clear water, you’ll be ok.
And another thing I noticed, many locals smoke, so even non-smoking rooms have a faint smoke smell in them. If you are allergic or a strict non-smoker make sure to request a non-smoking room before arrival.
All In All
Excellent Four Seasons hotel, highly recommended to all travellers to the Middle East and definitely the best hotel in Bahrain.
